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Article

30 Jun 2015

Author:
Richard Arghiris, IC Magazine

Panama: Riot squads confront indigenous people protesting impacts of Barro Blanco hydroelectric dam on their livelihoods

“Genisa director arrested in Honduras as Panama´s President sends riot squad to indigenous protests”, 19 Jun 2015

President Varela of Panama dispatched the riot squad to Tolé…in a move intended to intimidate activists protesting against the Barro Blanco hydroelectric dam on the Tabasará River...[The] President…has been largely indecisive on the issue of Barro Blanco. Currently he errs on the side of the dam’s owner, Generadora del Istmo (GENISA). However, his decision…arrives at a particularly unfortunate moment for GENISA, coinciding with the high profile arrest of one of the company's directors…The Barro Blanco hydroelectric dam is set to inundate indigenous Ngäbe villages, scores of productive plots, cultural centres and archaeological sites…[T]he impacted communities have never provided their free, prior and informed consent…